Vincent steatjb



(No Model.)

V.STRAUB. SHOE.

No. 457,408. Patented Aug. 11, 1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VINCENT STRAUB, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

SHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 457,408, dated August11,1891.

Application filed April 13, 1891. Serial No. 388,625. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VINCENT STRAUB, a citizen of the United States,residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My said invention relates to improved construction of soles for bootsand shoes, whereby the strain upon the shoe-uppers is lessened, thedurability of the shoe increased, and a sole provided which will notsoak water as readily as those of the common construction; and itconsists in interposing between the outer and inner soles a series ofshort coiled springs set in close proximity to each other, andpractically filling the space within the welt, one end of each springbeing inserted in the inner sole and the other end in the outer sole,whereby they are maintained in an unvarying relative position at alltimes, all as will be hereinafter more particularly described andclaimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof,and on which similar letters of reference-indicate similar parts, Figurel is a side elevation of a shoe constructed in accordance with myinvention, a portion of the side being broken out to show the interiorconstruction of the sole; Fig. 2, a plan View of the same, showing thebottom of a shoe before the outer sole is placed thereon, and Fig. 3 across-section through the finished sole.

In said drawings the portions marked A represent the upper; B, the innersole; O,the springs, and D the outer sole. The upper A and inner sole Bare or may be of any construction for any boot or shoe desired. Thesprings C are short coiled springs with the points of the wire of whichthey are composed projecting in a direction to readily engage with thesurface of the soles, and they are preferably arranged in closeproximity to each other, filling the space within the welt a of thesole, being preferably placed in position with their inner ends insertedin shallow appropriately-formed holes in the inner sole before the outersole is applied, the shoe shown in Fig. 2 being at such a stage of theconstruction and ready for the outer sole. The outer sole D may besingle or double, as desired, and is applied to the shoe, as shown inFig. 2, in the ordinary manner, being either sewed or pegged thereto anddrawn down tightly upon the welt a surrounding the edges of the innersole, thus compressing the springs and forming a'neat finish andappearance, in no way differing from the appearance of a shoeconstructed without my improvement. The outer points of the springs workinto the inner surface of the outer sole as it is pressed upon them inbeing secured in position, thus adding but a trifling amount of extralabor or expense to the usual cost of the shoe, while affording anelastic sole, which in use operates to prevent the usual strain upon theupper, thus increasing the durability thereof and at the same timecontributing to the comfort of the wearer. The springs also operate tomaintain a space between the outer and inner soles, and thus preventmoisture in the outer sole from being transmitted to the inner sole,which prevents the feet of the wearer from getting damp in such cases asthey would with the shoes of the common construction.

I am aware that patents already issued show spring devices attached tothe soles of shoes for various purposes, and other forms of springdevices interposed between the soles of shoes; but in each case saidconstructions are cumbersome and expensive and not adapted for use inthe manufacture of fine goods of a neat appearance. I therefore do notclaim a spring-sole shoe, broadly, but limit myself to the particularconstruction and arrangement herein shown and claimed.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A sole for a boot or shoe composed of an inner sole and an outer soleunited around their edges and having a series of short coiled springsinterposed in a space between the adjacent faces of said two parts, oneend of each spring being caught into the inner sole and the other endinto the outer sole, substantially as shown and described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, atIndianapolis, Indiana, this 8th day of April, A. D. 1891.

VINCENT STRAUB. [L. 8.]

Witnesses:

E. W. BRADFORD, FRANK W. W001).

